By now you’re probably well underway with household preparations to make the yuletide bright. You’re on top of sourcing a Christmas tree. You’re decking the halls, browsing gingerbread cookie recipes, making lists and checking them twice. I’ll leave that in your capable hands.

But when it comes to getting out and attending Vancouver holiday events and attractions, rely on us. From light displays to live music, hanging out with Santa and classic Christmas theatre productions, here’s everything you need to know about Vancouver’s best Christmas events.

15 Unmissable Christmas Events

1) Grouse Mountain’s Peak of Christmas, ongoing through Dec. 24
Walk in a winter wonderland a thousand metres above the city at Grouse’s annual holiday celebration, Peak of Christmas. The festivities include Santa’s workshop, an 8,000-square-foot outdoor skating pond, real reindeer, sleigh rides, Christmas choirs – all set against an alpine backdrop. The Peak of Christmas is in included in the price of an Alpine Experience Ticket ($39.95 for adults, $35.95 for seniors, $23.95 for youth 13-18, $13.95 for children 5-12).

2) Bright Nights – Stanley Park Christmas Train, ongoing through Jan. 1
Come on, it’s lovely weather for a train ride together. Parents of small kiddos consider Bright Nights to be one of the most enjoyable Vancouver holiday traditions. But make no mistake, grown-ups will melt like Frosty in summer over the view of 2 million twinkly lights illuminating Vancouver’s 1000-acre Stanley Park, visible as you ride the park’s Mini Train. Don’t forget to finish with cocoa, roasted nuts, and Christmas carols in the plaza. Rides run 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). Afternoon matinees run Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. It’s closed on Christmas. Adults are $10, children and seniors are $7. Matinee train tickets are $5.50.

4) Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 9; 15-24
You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I’m telling you why: Santa Claus really is coming to town. While Vancouver is a brunch kind of place, Kris Kringle can only make it for breakfast. He gets pretty busy around this time of year, if you can imagine. Join Santa for a nosh from 9am-11am on Grouse Mountain. Breakfast includes a sing-a-long, reindeer crafts and admission to Peak of Christmas. Tickets are $49.50 for adults, $29.90 for youth (13-18), $18.40 for children (5-12).

Robson Sq. Ice Rink. Photo credit: Flickr user nolitawanders

5) Free Ice Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink, ongoing through Feb.
It doesn’t quite feel like the holiday season until you can stroll by Robson Square in the heart of downtown Vancouver and see ice skaters. The best part about this festive, family-friendly Vancouver winter tradition? It’s free. While visitors in NYC have to pony up $19 to skate at the iconic Rockefeller Center Ice Rink, and it’s $20+ to skate the Natural History Museum Rink in London, Vancouver’s Robson Square Ice Rink only charges for rentals. And at $4 (cash) for blades, it’s really not steep.

6) Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden , ongoing Dec. 7-Jan. 1
Vancouver’s award-winning botanical garden transforms into sparkly eye candy every year as gardeners deck the boughs with thousands of strings of coloured lights. The big draw is the enthralling “Dancing Lights” on Livingstone Lake, which burst into action every 30 minutes. Kids can also meet Santa in his living room, and high five Svend and Jens, the Scandie Christmas gnomes. Dec. 7 – Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Closed Christmas. Adult $14.25; Senior and Youth $10.50; Child $7.75.

8) Vancouver Christmas Market, ongoing through Dec. 24
The holidays Vancouver Christmas Market-style are romantic, aromatic and twinkly. Stroll inside the village gate into a world of rustic wooden huts surrounding a soaring Tannenbaum. Partake in Glühwein, brats, stollen, and gingerbread. Browse Christmas decor and gifts. Kids will enjoy the old fashioned carousel, gingerbread decorating at the Kids Centre. The market is in Queen Elizabeth Sq. Plaza in downtown Van. Tickets are $5 for adults, except weekdays 11am-4pm, when it drops to $2. Youth (7-12) are $2. Kids (0-6) are free.

9) The Nutcracker at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Dec. 14-16
For many, attending the Nutcracker is an irresistible annual holiday tradition that began when their kids danced in it. Join Clara on her adventures with princes, sugarplum fairies, evil rat kings and cossacks. In the Royal Winnipeg Ballet version, you may recognize iconic Canadian imagery (a snowy hockey game and a battle on Parliament Hill) in Clara’s fantasy land. Tickets start at $30.25.

10) Luminescence at Vancouver Aquarium, ongoing through Jan. 22
Perhaps the most creative display of lights this holiday season, Vancouver Aquarium has put together an aquatic light show featuring the incredible world of fluorescent and bioluminescent ocean light. Find out why and how aquatic animals like anemones, cuttlefish, jellies and corals glow in the deep. Don’t go home without a meet-and-greet with Scuba Claus – underwater Santa. The show is included with the price of admission: $21 for adults; $16 for youth 13-18, students and seniors; and $13 for children 4-12.

11) Lights of Hope at St. Paul’s Hospital, ongoing through Jan. 7
This lovely cavalcade of rainbow stars is a free Christmas attraction you can spot riding buses that run across Burrard Bridge. Every year, Vancouver’s downtown hospital is decked out in 10 kilometres (that’s seawall length) of Christmas lights. The volunteer-built display aims to inspire hospital donations.

12) Carol Ships Parade of Lights, ongoing through Dec. 23
Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light as you join a floating parade of 50 decorated boats on a nightly excursion through Vancouver waters including Inner Harbour, Outer Harbour and False Creek to as far as West Vancouver, Port Moody and Deep Cove. Vancouver’s cruise ship companies offer many tpes of holiday adventures that offer dinner, carols and dancing.

13) Winter Solstice Lantern Festival, Dec. 21
Participate in old school winter traditions by celebrating the return of light after the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year. This romantic community event takes place across five Vancouver neighbourhoods including Chinatown, Granville Island and Yaletown. As the name suggests, illumination comes from lantern displays, not bulbs. And it’s free! Learn more here.

15) Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge, ongoing through Jan. 5
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling, “Yoo hoo” from the stunning, 137-metre long suspension bridge that swings 70 metres above the Capilano River. While the bridge is always a jaw-dropper, it’s exponentially more magical when it’s decked out in twinkly white Christmas lights. There’s also a scavenger hunt, gingerbread cookie decorating and sing-along carols. Open daily 4pm. – 9pm It’s closed Christmas. Adults are $31.95, children are $12, and it’s $65 per family (2 adults and 2 kids).

Thank you again Taraneh for your wonderful support and putting us on your list of 15 Unmissable Christmas Events. The market has had such a great start thanks to you and to all our wonderful journalist and writers that make this special for us at the VCM. We look forward to seeing your wonderful readers. Happy holidays to all!

Lisa

Thursday, 6 Dec 2012 8:06 am

I will never return to this event
They oversold it – by letting too many people in at a time
It was too crowded to visitl …..very dissatisfied

There are so many more worthy friendly craft fares – that, even though they are selling things – they keep it feeling like Christmas. Like the one st. Pius near deep cove puts on
The children put on a show and sing.

Also the park and tilford lights – by donation, are smaller than vandusen, but are just as intensely magical. You can get a hot coffee from Starbucks or jj bean and stroll through and then buy your tree from save on foods or Rona – makes a very Christmassy outing

Back for our 4th season! Featured on Shaw TV’s The Express, it’s The Perfect Christmas Nighty by Cabaret Torlage where New York meets Vegas in Vancouver. Imagine 20 of your all time favourite holiday songs brought to life in this live, theatrical cabaret. The Perfect Christmas Night! is a visual experience that combines theatre, song, dance & Burlesque performed by the beautiful and talented Torlage Showgirls. High quality, professional, polished and classy with just the right amount of risque to make it interesting. After all, it’s a sexy, saucy, sometimes naughty, time of the year. Every Saturday night in December, 7:30PM at the Legendary Penthouse Nightclub. 1019 Seymour Street. http://www.torlage.com for more info and to purchase your tickets online – no service fee! Come to the Cabaret.

Michelle

Monday, 10 Nov 2014 10:40 am

Christmas at Hycroft is lovely and really helps get me into the Christmas spirit!

The Santaland Diaries is a super old link… I soooo wanted to go but frantically looking for it and it is OLD! A little disappointed :(

Dominique

Tuesday, 18 Nov 2014 2:17 am

Willingdon Church in Burnaby always puts on a spectacular musical with the purpose of celebrating the true meaning of Christmas! It runs from Dec 11-15 at 7pm with 3pm matinees as well on the 13th & 14th.

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